Learning About Merle Puggle Coat Color and Genetics

The merle pattern in Puggles is a result of a genetic variation that affects the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for coat color.

Merle Puggles can have a wide range of coat colors, including black, blue, chocolate, and fawn, with or without white markings.

The genetics behind the merle pattern involve a specific mutation in the KIT gene, which codes for the production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

This mutation leads to the characteristic patchy, mottled appearance of the merle coat.

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A Merle Puggle is a dog with a unique coat pattern that's a result of the merle gene, which affects the dog's base coat color, eye color, and skin pigment. This gene is inherited as an autosomal, incompletely dominant trait.

The merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat, and it can affect all coat colors, including recessive red dogs.

Merle Puggles can have a range of eye colors, including blue, dark, or even odd-colored eyes, due to the merle gene modifying the dark pigment in the eyes.

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Animals that are homozygous (having two copies) of the merle gene, also known as "double merle", are predominantly white and prone to several health issues.

It's essential to be careful when breeding Merle Puggles, as the chances of having puppies that develop health issues increase when two merles are bred together.

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The gene affecting the merle puggle's coat is a semi-dominant gene, meaning it only takes one copy of the M allele to produce a merle pattern.

This gene, known as the merle allele (M), was first discovered at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006.

The merle allele disrupts the function of the PMEL gene, leading to a mottled or patchy coat pattern.

Dogs with the "M*m" genotype are likely to appear merle or phantom merle, while dogs with the "M*M*" genotype are likely to appear merle or double merle.

A merle dog has one copy of the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m), resulting in an Mm genotype.

The merle allele is a type of mutation called a SINE insertion in the PMEL gene, which is responsible for producing a matrix that holds pigment in place.

The length of this genetic insertion is not very stable, and as cells divide during embryogenesis, it may shrink or expand, resulting in a mosaic of patches on the dog's coat.

The size of each patch depends on how early in embryogenesis the insertion size mutated, with larger patches descended from earlier mutation events.

A merle dog can produce puppies with different lengthed merle alleles, and the length of the merle allele determines the coat pattern of the dog.

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The merle coat color in Puggles is a result of genetics, specifically a dominant and recessive trait involving the merle allele (M) and the non-merle allele (m). The merle allele is a semi-dominant gene that only takes one copy to produce a merle coat.

Every merle dog has one copy of the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m), meaning their genotype is Mm. Dogs with two merle alleles (MM) are known as double merles, and they often have more white on their coats.

Double merles don't look like typical merles, with smaller, less pigmented splotches and a whiter background color. They can also be almost pure white.

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DNA tests can tell you if your dog has zero, one, or two M alleles. This is especially important in breeds known to produce merle, where hidden or cryptic merles can carry the M allele without showing the typical merle pattern.

A hidden merle, for example, will have a recessive "ee" genotype that inhibits the expression of dark pigment, making it appear cream or red in pigmented areas. This means that a dog with a hidden merle may not look like a typical merle, but still carries the M allele.

Cryptic merles, on the other hand, have a merle pattern that's only expressed in very small areas, making them harder to detect. These dogs can also carry the M allele and may produce merles as well.

In breeds prone to merle, it's essential to DNA test before breeding to avoid producing double-merle puppies, which have a higher risk of health problems like deafness and microphthalmia.

Some dogs have more merle than others because of the way the SILV gene works. The SILV gene produces a matrix that holds pigment in place, but if one allele has extra genetic material, the matrix has holes and pigment escapes.

The length of this genetic insertion is unstable, so it may shrink or expand as cells divide during embryogenesis. This can result in cells producing a nearly normal matrix and giving rise to patches of fully pigmented coat.

Merles are a mosaic of copies from cells with varying degrees of "leaky" matrixes and normal matrixes. The size of each patch depends on how early in embryogenesis the insertion size mutated.

The merle pattern in Puggles is a result of genetics, specifically a dominant and recessive trait. The merle allele (M) is a semi-dominant gene that produces the distinctive splotches.

Every merle Puggle has one copy of the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m), which means they have an Mm genotype. This is in contrast to non-merle Puggles, who have an mm genotype.

The merle allele was first discovered at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006, and it's a type of mutation called a SINE insertion in the SILV (also called PMEL17) gene.

Dogs with two merle alleles (MM), also known as double merles, don't typically look like merles. They usually have much more white on them and can be almost pure white.

Double-merle Puggles are also more prone to health problems, including hearing loss and microphthalmia, where the eyes are abnormally small and often nonfunctional.

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Merle Puggle Genetics can be a bit complex, but understanding the basics can help you make informed decisions about breeding or caring for your merle Puggle.

The merle coat pattern arises from a mutation in the PMEL gene, specifically a SINE insertion that disrupts PMEL expression. This mutation is known as M*.

A merle dog has one copy of the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m), resulting in an Mm genotype. Every non-merle dog has an mm genotype.

Dogs with two merle alleles (MM) are known as "double merles" and can have a range of coat patterns, often with more white and smaller, fully pigmented splotches.

If two carriers (M/m) are bred together, there is a 25% chance per puppy born that they will be homozygous (M/M) for the merle trait, known as "double merles." A high percentage of double merle puppies have vision or hearing deficiencies.

A cryptic or phantom merle is a dog that appears to be non-merle or has very faint patches of merle, but can still produce merle offspring. These animals are known as cryptic merles, as they don't appear to be merle but can produce merles.

The length of the merle allele determines the coat pattern of the dog, with longer alleles resulting in more pronounced merle patterns.

Some of our adorable Puggle puppies are Merle Puggles, a unique and beautiful combination of Pug and Pugapoo traits.

Merle Puggles can have a range of colors, including Red Merle and Blue Merle, which are the result of the merle gene modifying the base coat color.

The merle gene can also modify the eye color and coloring on their nose and paw pads, sometimes changing dark eyes to blue or part of the eye to be colored blue.

As with any dog, Merle Puggles can have varying degrees of merling effects, and some may appear to be non-merle due to the presence of a recessive red gene, which is known as a cryptic merle.

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Double Merle Puggles, which occur when two Merle Puggles are bred together, have a higher risk of being blind and/or deaf, and may also have large amounts of white in their coat.

Fortunately, responsible breeding practices can minimize the risk of these health problems, and with the right care, Merle Puggles can lead happy and healthy lives.